Canal Boat — February 2018

canalboat.co.uk

change, he said, dismissing standard
layouts as ‘the caravan look’. Builders
offer oak or ash for fit-outs and pack in
plenty of storage rather than looking at
the whole aspect of interior design.
“Standard boats are being overtaken by
bespoke designs. The requirements are
changing all the time. More and more,
people want different looks. Even old
boat renovations are changing the look,”
he said.
The new build Double Denim on the
company’s website shows what the Fit Out
Pontoon – based on the border of
Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire – is
getting up to.
“The apartment boat was driven by the
customer: the look, the feel. They drove
the design. It was a huge challenge such
as the cladding. We had to source 22mm
planks of wood weighing two tonnes from
a reclamation yard,” said Mark. “The
wood had to be fed through a spindle

moulder, turned into tongue and groove

then installed. It was quite a challenge.”

Client talks start with the future use of

the boat, Mark explained, be it, for

example, constant cruising or moored in a

marina, for example, closely followed by

the all important budget.

“A buyer may want double glazing but if

the spend is fixed and the boat needs

better batteries or a bigger inverter, that

takes priority,” he said.

Mark aims to expand into larger

fabricating facilities to face into another

very busy year.

“It’s a big step into manufacturing but

the market is very buoyant. Big waiting

lists and lots of buyers out there.

“All the brokers are saying the same

thing, no problem selling boats, the

problem is finding them,” added Mark.

The Fit Out Pontoon 07553 960 177

thefitoutpontoon.co.uk

70 February 2018 Canal Boat

TECHNICAL

CB

A unique look and feel for each client

Clever use of storage space